NIA to probe mid-air attack on Captain Smit Machchhar aboard flydubai flight

Here are the top updates from the flydubai hijacking case:1. "2. The preliminary investigation also revealed that the 30 September flight wasn't Al-Hammami's first to Israel. The suspect had already taken part in two flights to Ben Gurion Airport to become familiar with the route and airport in preparation for the attack. 3. According to the statement, he began gravitating towards extremism and terrorism in 2017 while studying in Australia. His views were shaped by extremist publications and online material that praised terrorist groups and suicide attacks. ”4. The pilot who intervened and prevented the plane from crashing was assigned to the return flight and was near the cockpit when Al-Hammami carried out the attack. 5. The UAE said it had reviewed flydubai’s hiring process for Al-Hammami. According to the state-run news agency, investigators confirmed that the suspect fulfilled the employment criteria: he held a pilot’s licence, submitted a good-conduct certificate and passed the required checks. Flydubai flight attackOn 30 September, Al-Hammami attacked flight captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in an attempt to crash the aircraft, which was carrying over 170 people, mostly Israelis. The attempt failed after Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door despite being seriously injured. About the AuthorSwati GandhiSwati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership. Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends. At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business. Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.